Means for inflating rotating tires



Aug. 17, 1937. c, AND 2,090,089

MEANS FOR INFLATING ROTATING TIRES Filed Aug. 27, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOB Carl P716 and ATTORNEY Aug. 17, 1937. c, wlEGAND 2,090,089

MEANS FOR INFLATING ROTATING TIRES Filed Aug. 27, 1.935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Aug. 17, 1937. c. WIEGAND MEANS FOR INFLATING ROTATING TIRES Filed Aug. 27, 1.935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. er! "6 all BY 1 A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE It Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tire inflation systems in general, and in particular to rotary connectors employed to join the relatively stationary and rotating portions of the tubular air leads of said systems used to vary the air pressure in the tires of a vehicle while the same is moving or stationary.

The device is adapted to be installed within and protected by the rear axle or front wheel hub housings of automotive vehicles. Each deviceis comprised of a so-called anchor member fixedly secured within the enclosing housing; a saddle ring member having an interior tapered surface mounted on said anchor member and free to slide longitudinally into relative rotational engagement with a conical member on the axle to form therewith, medially of their engaged tapered surfaces, an annular chamber that provides connection for the relatively stationary and revolving portions of the air lead connected to the tire; suitable resilient means used to yieldingly force the said saddle ring into continual engagement with said conical element; and an oil reservoir and wick feed which provide means for lubricating the engaged surfaces on either side of the said annular chamber.

No packing is required between the relatively revolvable engaged tapered surfaces. The tire inflating fluid forces the film of lubricant applied by said wick feed outwardly to both lubricate and seal the remaining width of said surfaces. The lubricating film is continually replenished with oil drawn from a large and readily fillable oil reservoir provided within the axle of the wheel.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means of the class described that is simple and compact in construction and reliable in operation.

Another object is to provide a device of the kind described that requires no packing, is automatically and reliably lubricated, and is self adjusting to compensate for changes in temperature and wear. I

A further object is to provide a device of the kind described that can be installed within and protected by'the rear axle and front wheel hub housings of automotive vehicles.

A still further object is to. provide rotary air 50 line connector means that permit the convenient removal and replacement of the wheels without disturbing the adjustment of said rotary connector parts.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent 55 to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred form of the invention, which consists of certain parts and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and embraced in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a diagram indicating the relative positions of the several mechanism elements and pneumatic tires interconnected by tubing and electric wiring for varying the fluid pressure in said tires through the intermediacy of my rotary air lead connector, as applied to a conventional automotive vehicle.

Figure 2 is a medial sectional elevation on a portion of a rear wheel showing the positioning of the mechanism comprising the air line connection between the 'tireand the relatively sta- I tionary tubular connection to the control system.

Figure 3 is a similar view of the outer end of the rear axle housing and drive shaft to a larger scale, with a portion of the, axle, integral cone, and other elements of the rotaryair line connection in section.

Figure 4 is a section on broken line lli of Figure 3, showing one means for positioning the anchor ring.-

Figure 5 is a section on broken line. 5-5 of Figure 3, showing the preferred method of connecting the air line lead with the annular groove in the saddle ring, and applies also to the section on broken line 5'-5' of Figure '7.

Figure 6 is a'medial sectional elevation of 'a portion of a front wheel showing the mechanism comprising the air line connection between the tire and the .front wheel spindle.

Figure '7 is a similar view of the front wheel hub to a larger scale with a portion of the spindle the integral cone and saddle ring of the rotary air line connection in section.

Figure 8 is a section through a substitute cone element construction and fragmentary sections of the associated parts to a still larger scale, also a diagram of the resolution of force due to the air pressure in the annular groove of the saddle ring.

Fig. 9 is a larger scale medial sectional elevation of the combination valve stem connector and lubricant separator at the end' of the flexible tubing shown in Figures 2 and 6.

Figure 10 is a plan of the pin insert for the valve stem connector, with the pin in section as at broken line I0i0 of Figure 9 to still larger scale.

like parts throughout the drawings wherein I refers to the tire casings of an automotive vehicle equipped with my invention, 2 are the removable wheels on which said tires are mounted, 31 is a rear wheel hub and 3f is a front wheel hub, 4 are 5 the brake drums, and 5 are the brake' supports which carry hydraulic brake cylinders 6.

Air pressure system A valve manifold consisting of a hollow body 44 in which a plurality of valve elements 45 are mounted, may be positioned behind the instrument panel 46 with the valve stems passing through apertures therefor in said panel so the knurled heads of said valve stems are within easy reach of the driver. A separate valve element may be provided for each tubular air lead connected to said manifold as shown in Figure 1. By means of the aforesaid valves the flow of air in rear wheel conduit leads 1, front wheel conduit leads I and conduit leads Is to flexible tubing 23s and spare tire Is can be controlled quickly an easily, so the facilities of the system may be utilized to the best advantage.

The manifold body chamber is connected to a source of fluid under pressure 41 through a run of tubing 48s containing a shut-off .valve 49 and a check valve 50. When air brakes are not used, I prefer to employ an air compressor as my fluid supply means as shown in Figure 1. Connection is made also to the air pressure control device 56:2: by means of tubing 480', which therein connects to pressure gauge 58. The mechanism of said control device is illustrated and described in my copending application, Serial No. 148,422, filed June 15, 1937, the same being a continuation in part of this application. A modified tire valve and stem 26s may be provided in the run of tubing 48s to facilitate connection with service air leads for emergency inflation of the tires, testing or other purposes. Air compressor 41 may be driven mechanically by the projecting end of the shaft of the usual electric generator 5|, which in turn is driven by the vehicles engine, not shown.

To complete the driving connection between the compressor and generator shafts, I prefer to use an electro-magnet clutch having an aramature portion 52a and an electro-magnet body portion 52m. One end of the winding of said 50 clutch is grounded to said body portion and through it to the frame of the vehicle, and the other end is connected to an insulated slip ring 53 fixedly mounted on the clutch shaft. The vehicles metal frame (not shown) conducts' the 5 current from the grounded end of said winding to the grounded" terminal of the usual storage battery 54, which may be charged by generator 5|. The electromagnet clutch circuit is completed to slip ring 53 through conductor 94w, switch 93,

6 conductor 8417, current flow indicator 51 and the relay (not shown) of said control, device, conductor 96c andbrush 55.

It will be apparent that so long as the engine is running the air compressor may bestarted at 65 any timeby energizing the electro-magnet clutch. Because of the high inductance of the clutch winding circuit, the current builds up slowly and I the grip of the clutch is exerted gradually, thus enabling the air compressor to be started without mundue jerk. Obviously the air compressor may be stopped by simply opening the electromagnet clutch circuit at any point. I

hear wheel conduit lead rotary connector Referring to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, connection is made between tubular conduit leads I of the tire pressure control system and rear wheel tires by means of rear wheel conduit lead rotary connectors 8r, which preferably are positioned within and near the outer ends 9 of the rear axle housing. As shown best in Figures 2 and 3, each rear axle I0 is rotatively supported within said rear axle housing by means of taper roller bearings II. At the time of its manufacture said rear axles may each be provided with a conical enlargement I2c the lateral surface of which is machined, ground and lapped to provide a smooth tapered surface of high geometrical accuracy. An annulus member termed a saddle member I21- that may be made of a softer material such as graphite bronze, has its inner surface machined and lapped separately to fit on conical enlargement IR, and is then lapped in place to provide an air tight joint on either side of annular groove I2g. Conduit connection with said groove I2g is provided by means of aperture I2h in member I21, shown best in Figure 5, enlarged at its outer end to receive one end of circularly formed tube l3, which is fixedly secured to said saddle member as by brazing.

Saddle ring I2 is maintained in position on its companion conical member by means of an anchor ring I4 which may be adjustably and removably secured to housing 9 by means of a plurality of set screws I5, as shown clearly in Figure 4. A plurality of pins I6, fixedly secured to the anchor ring, are adapted to extend through apertures in the saddle ring as shown in detail in Figures 3, 4, and 5. These pins prevent the rotation of the saddle ring, but permit it to be urged continually in an axial direction against the tapered surface of cone I2c by means of helical compression springs I'I carried by said pins.

The conduit. connection from groove I2g to tire I is completed by means of a radially disposed aperture I8 that connects with an axially disposed longitudinal aperture I9 in rear axle I0, a length of rigid tubing 20, tapered compression ring 2I, ferrule 22, flexible tubing 23, lubricant separator 24, clamp rings 25 and valve stem 26, as shown clearly in Figures 2, 3, and 9.

Aperture I9 preferably has an inner terminal length ,I9t of smaller diameter to receive a felt terminal tube 21 to which is aiflxed a larger tube of wick-like material 28 by means of staple 29. The combination is saturated with a suitable lubricant and forms a reservoir to be drawn from for the lubrication of the relatively revolvable surfaces of the rotary connector by means of felt wick 30. As may be seen clearly in Figure 3, said wick is forced outwardly in radially disposed aperture 3| in conical enlargement I2c by means of helical compression spring 32 so its outer end bears against the tapered bearing surface of saddle ring I21 on either side of groove I20. The

inner end portion of said wick is a tight fit in an aperture provided therefor in felt terminal tube 21, hence the lubricant is fed outwardly from reservoir wick 28 to maintain a thin film of lubricant between cone I20 and ring I2r, the air pressure in groove I2g being effective to force said lubricant outwardly to cover the full width of the engaged and relatively revolvable surfaces. The larger diameter of aperture I9, in which reservoir wick 28- is positioned, retains the lubricant when subjected to centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rear axle, but does not prevent its flow longitudinally through the felt terminal tube to feed wick 30. An aperture in terminal the wheel hub,

tube 21 opposite aperture I 6 assures a passage for the flow of air to or from the tire.

To assemble the rear wheel mechanism with the rear axle and its bearings and oil washer set screws I5 are screwed out far enough to clear anchor ring I4, then tubular connector fitting 1c is screwed into the threaded hole provided therefor in rear axle housing 9 with the affixed curved tubular extension 1t positioned to meet the free end of tube I3 on which connector sleeve I30 is forced back to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5. Anchor ring l4 and saddle ring I21- are assembled with springs I'I forcing said saddle ring against cotter pins I60 and tube I3 encircling the ends of pins I6. This sub-assembly is then inserted into the open end of rear axle housing 9 on any suitable guide tool (not shown) that will fit accurately within the portion of said housing machined to receive bearings I'l, thus positioning the anchor ring coaxially of the running position of axle II'I.

Set screws I5'and lock nuts I5n thenmay be tightened and adjusted until the guide tool may be withdrawn freely, after which locking wire I5w is inserted through apertures provided therefor in the heads of said set screws, as shown in Figure 4.

The end of tube I3 should be adjusted next until its free end is positioned opposite and adjacent the end of tubular extension Lt; then connecting sleeve I30 is slid into the position shown,

and a. small flame and solder are applied to form an air tight and mechanically strong connection. The usual splined end of rear axle I6 then is inserted through ring I4 without touching the highly finished interior surface of saddle ring I21: Ring I4 serves as a guide while axle I0 is being pushed through to establish driving connection with the well known difierential gearing, not shown. Oil washer Illw is inserted next, then the inner roller bearing assembly, snap ring I61, and outer roller bearing assembly in the order named. The ariangement and dimensions of the several parts are such that when axle Ill is forced inwardly to its operating position, conical member I20 engages saddle ring I2r and forces it back on pins I6 away from cotter pins I60.

"The assembly of wheel hub 3r, wheel 2 and other parts as shown in Figure 2, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Obviously the mechanism can be disassembled in reverse order.

Front wheel conduit lead rotary connector Referring to Figures 6 and 7 it will be seen that the conduit lead rotary connector 8f for the front wheels although smaller is identical in principle to the conduit lead rotary connector 8? for the rear wheels. Corresponding parts have corresponding but numerals of reference for the front wheel. The fact that the front wheel and hub 3f rotate about axle 33 of steering knuckle 33k on tapered roller bearings Na and Nb, necessitates securing anchor ring I4 within said hub. This may be done by machining shoulder 3s and anchor ring I4 so the latter is a light press fit within the bore of said shoulder, which is notched to receive the projecting small end of one of pins I6, the ends of the other pins being machined flush with the anchor ring before the third pin is pressed into position and riveted. This provides a key connection to assure rotation of the anchor ring with which serves as a housing to protect the parts of the air line rotary connector,

- aperture I6 saddle ring groove prime or otherwise characterized I as may be seen in Figure 7. From this it will be apparent that conical enlargement I20 and axle 33 do not rotate; but anchor ring I4, saddle ring I21" and the assembled associated parts rotate with hub 3f. Springs Il' urge the saddle ring onto the taper of the conical member, thus maintaining an air-tight otary connection between these two all-important elements, the same as in the rear wheel mechanism.

The lubricant reservoir in this case may be formed by drilling the steering knuckle\ at the axis of the axle to receive felt terminal tube 21 and reservoir wick 28, and tapping the end to receive threaded plug 34 before inserting the steering knuckle pivot rod 35. Terminal tube 21, feed wick 36" and spring 3I are similar in construction and operation to the like parts for the rear wheel mechanism, and assure the proper lubrication of the relatively revolvable surfaces of the conical member and saddle ring as hereinbefore described.

A threaded aperture 36 in steering knuckle 33k connecting with the lubricant reservoir is adapted to receive standard connector fitting 31 and a length of flexible tubing 38, which in turn connects with tubular conduit lead 1 as shown in Figure 1 to allow for the required movement of said steering knuckle. An aperture 28a in reservoir wick 26' opposite aperture 36 assures an unobstructed path for the flow of air.

In this case the conduit connection from the lubricant reservoir to the tire is provided by I29, an aperture in the saddle ring similar to In of Figure 5, circularly formed tube I3, connector fitting 'Ic', flexible tubing 23, lubricant separator 24 and valve stem 26.

To assemble the front wheel mechanism with hub 31 removed from axle 33, and with oil washer Illw, bearing I lb and grease cap 38 removed from the hub; first saddle ring I21", tube I3 and springs H are positioned on pins I6 and held in place by cotter pins I60. This combination then is inserted through the opening in the large end of hub 3i, and suitable tools are used to force anchor ring I4 into the position shown in Figure 7.

Tubular connector fitting 10 next may be screwed into position in the hub and the ends of tubular elements It and I3 connected by means of sleeve I30 as previously explained for the rear wheel assembly. Bearing b is inserted next, and then oil washer Illw. The hub finally is slipped into position on spindle 33, with the central aperture of anchor ring I4 and bearing Ila serving as guides, care'being taken not to injure the bearing surface of the saddle ring or conical member.

The usual keyed thrust washer 39, then is adjusted by hearing nut 40 and secured in position by means of cotter pin 4|. Bearings Ila and I lb having been greased before positioning the hub on spindle 33, grease cap 38 may be screwed into position to complete the hub assembly. After securing wheel 2 to the hub flange by means of cap screws 428, the lower end of flexible tubing 23' is passed through hole 42h in wire wheel hub shell 42 and tubular end terminal 20' is secured in connector fitting 1c in the usual manner. The combination valve stem connector and lubricant separator 24 connected to the other end of said tubing, is then connected to valve stem 26 and the usual hub shell cap 43 is finally snapped into place, to complete the assembly shown in Figure 6.

Substitute conical member is completed, separate conical members are con-' structed of tempered steel and shrunk onto the rear axles and steering knuckle axl assubstitutes for the integral conical enlargements hereinbefore described.

To assure an air tight joint between the substitute cone element and associated part, I prefer to use the construction illustrated in Figure 8, apertures i8 and 3| being drilled in the cone element l2c before the wheel or steering knuckle axle Ill-33 is machined to provide a plurality of circular ridges Jr on either side of the position selected for the aforesaid aperturesin the respective axles. Said ridges then are ground to provide a slight taper to fit the taper bore of the substitute conical member,

which is ground and lapped separately to provide a highly accurate and smooth surface. The respective axles may next be cooled in ice water and the cone element heated in boiling water. Said cone element is then forced onto the aforesaid ridges as far as it will go and allowed to cool. Ap-

ertures l8 and 3| may then be extended by drilling said respective axles to posed aperture for the reservoir wick. Finally the lateral surface of the substitute conical member is ground and lapped, and then the saddle ring is lapped in place as previously described. When this construction is used I find that the relatively soft ridges are gripped securely by the tempered cone element and provide a simple and reliable air tight connection.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that as the saddle ring and conical member are moved relative to each other due to the rotation of the wheel, aperture I8 is in connection at all times with the annular groove in the saddle ring, and that the helical springs on the anchor ring pins are continually forcing the saddle ring onto the tapered surface of the conical member. 0bviously for any of the constructions described. said annular groove may be placed in the conical member instead of in the saddle member, or both members may have such grooves. In any of these three cases the engagement of the two tapered surfaces of the two relatively revolvable members forms an annular chamber with which connection is made by lateral apertures in each of said members, therebyproviding a continuous conduit connection between the relatively stationary and revolving portions of the conduit lead for each wheel.

The pressure of the air in said annular chamber produces a force normal to the lateral surface of the conical member and equal to the lateral area of the cone embraced by said chamber times the air pressure per unit of area.

A diagram of said force and its components is ponents, one of which R represents the force tending to expand the saddle member, and the other component S represents the force tending to push the saddle member away from the conical member same is tempered. The rear .7

. the tapered surface meet the axially disin an axial direction. It will be noted that com,-

ponent S is small compared to either force F or component R. Obviously springs I'i andjl'l' in each case need exert only sufllcient force to balance the small force component S, and enough more to assure an air tight connection between the conical element and saddle member. I have found that a. spring force equal to twice the com- I ponent. S produced by the maximum tire air pressure is satisfactory trated.

Because of the taper of the automatically lubricated joint and the resiliency of the saddle member springs, my conduit lead rotary connector is self adjusting to compensate for changes in temperature and wear. Since the coefiicient of expansion of bronze is greater than that of steel, an increase in temperature increases the relative diameter of the saddle springs then force said saddle ring further onto of the conical member. In

for the conical taper illusmember, but the saddle ring like manner any wear is compensated for as it occurs.

As the conical and saddle members cool, the latter contracts at a faster rate than the former, thus causing said saddle member to slip slightly on the well lubricated lateral surface of the-conical member and compress the saddle member springs. Lubricant separator The combination valve stem connector and lubricant separator, hereinbefore designated inits entirety by reference numeral 24, is an important element of my tire air pressure control system.

As will be seen by reference to Figure 9, a cuplike portion 240 has a tubular end adapted to fit within the end of flexible tubing 23, and has interior threads at its larger end to receive a closure element 247:. having a tubular extension adapted to extend downwardly into said cup-like portion at one end and a recessed head portion at its other end. A connector sleeve 24s having interior threads at its head end, may have the opposite end walls forced inwardly under the recessed head portion of element 24h by means of the well known spinning operation, the arrangement being such that sleeve 24s is free to turn on said head portion while being screwed onto valve stem 26.

assure the opening of the tire valve when sleeve 24s is fully screwed onto the valve stem. Suitablegaskets 24g and 24 may be used to make airtight joints between the adjacent connecting parts.

Any of the lubricant that may find its way into the flexible tubing will flow along the interior walls thereof because of thc various bends, centrifugal force due to the rotation of the tire being eflective to accentuatesaid flow. When the lubricant enters cup-like portion 240 of the lubricant separator, its surface tension causes it to follow the interior wall thereof instead of entering the tubular projection of the closure element, thus effectively preventing the lubricant from entering and injuring the tire.

Any lubricant accumulation in cup 240 is easily removed by stopping 01f the conduit lead to that particular tire by closing its valve 45, removing the connector from the valve stem of the tire, unscrewing the closure element from the cup, and

cleaning their readily accessible interior sur-- faces.

After this is done and with the rear wheel in the position shown in Figure 2, a specified quantity of liquid lubricant may be poured periodically into cup-like portion 240 and allowed to drain 1 downwardly directly onto the outer end of reservoir wick 28. Any surface fllm of lubricant in the connecting tubing will of course be caught in the lubricant separator after the same is again assembled and connected to the tire.

15 Referring to Fig. 1, liquid lubricant for the front wheel reservoir wick may be introduced periodically by simply opening a valve 380, at the upper extremity of a vertically disposed nipple In secured to the frame of the car, pouring the speci- 20 fled quantity of liquid into said nipple, closing valve 38a and then opening valve 38b. The arrangement of flexible tubing 38 is such that said liquid will then flow downwardly onto the end of reservoir wick 28', shown in Fig. '7. Valve BBb 25 is then closed also to reduce the chance for air leaks.

While I have illustrated and described my system in a preferred formas applied to an automobile, it will be apparent to those skilled in the 30 art that the combination of coacting elements constituting my invention may be adapted and applied to trucks of various kinds, busses, and other vehicles using pneumatic tires, and that various changes may be made in the details of 35 construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the purpose and intent of said invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by 40 Letters Patent is:

1. In a tire inflation system, means for supplying fluid under pressure, a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connecting said supply means to a tire cas- 45 ing, rotary connector means for joining the said portions of said lead through a medial annular duct formed by the union of engaged and rela tively revolving tapered surfaces, and means disposed medially of the width of said engaged'sur- 50 faces for applying a lubricant between the respective innermost portions of said surfaces and using the outwardly effective pressure of said fluid to distribute said applied lubricant from said innermost portions outwardly between said 55 engaged surfaces.

2. In a tire inflation system, means for supplying fluid under pressure, a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connecting said supply means to a tire casing,

60 a conical member having a lateral aperture terminating medially of its exterior tapered surface and connected to one portion of said lead, a saddle member having an interior tapered surface with a medial annular groove connected to 65 the other'portion of said lead and being in relatively revolvable engagement with the exterior surface of said conical member, means for maintaining said revolvable engagement, and wick means for applying a. lubricant to the inner 70 edges adjacent said annular groove, whereby the pressure. of said fluid in the groove is used to distribute the applied lubricant outwardly be tween the entire engaged tapered surfaces on eitherside of said annular groove. 75 3. In a tire inflation system comprising means for supplying fluid under. pressure a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connecting said supply means to a tire casing, and the combination within a housing, of a conical member having an exterior tapered surface, a saddle member having an interior tapered surface adapted to relatively revolvably engage the tapered surface of said conical member and to form therewith medially of their engaged said tapered surfaces'an annular chamber, an anchor member fixedly secured within said housing and providing means to prevent relative rotational but to permit relative axial movementsbetween said anchor and saddle members, resilient means forcing said saddle means into engagement with the tapered surface of said conical member, conduit means connecting one portion of said lead to said annular chamber through said saddle member, other conduit means connecting the other portion of said lead to said annular chamber through said conical member, and means for applying a lubricant between the innermost portions of the engaged tapered surfaces.

4. In atire inflation system comprising means for supplying fluid under pressure, a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connecting said supply means to atire casing, and the combination within a'housing of an axle providing a conical member having conduit means connecting with oneportion of said lead, a saddle member in relatively revolvable engagement with the lateral surface of said conical member and providing conduit means connecting with the other portion of said lead and with the conduit means of said conical member, an anchor member fixedly secured within said housing and providing means to prevent relative rotational but to permit relative axial movements between said anchor and saddle members, and resilient means forcing said saddle member into engagement with said conical member.

5. In a tire inflation system comprising means for supplying fluid under presure, a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connecting said supply means to a tire casing, and the combination within a housing, of a conical member having an exterior tapered surface, a saddle member having an interior tapered surface adapted to engage the tapered surface of said conical member and to form therewith medially of their engaged said tapered surfaces an annular chamber, an anchor member fixedly secured to said housing to assure relative rotation between said saddle and conical members, resilient means maintaining the engagement of said tapered surfaces, conduit means connecting a coiled portion of said lead to said annular chamber through said saddle member, other conduit means connecting the other portion of said lead to said annular chamber through said conical member, and means for applying a lubricant between the engaged tapered surfaces. v

6. In a tire inflation system, means for supplying fluid under pressure, a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connecting said supply means to the tire casing of a wheel, rotary connector means comprising a conical member fixedly secured to the axle of said wheel and a saddle member having an inner tapered surface in relatively revolvable engagement with the lateral surface of said conical member for joining the said portions of said conduit lead, and means disposed medially of the width of said engaged surfaces for applying a lubricant between their innermost portions.

7. In a the inflation system, means for supplying fiuid under pressure, a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connecting said supply means to the tire casing of a wheel, a conical member providing conduit means connecting with one portion of said lead, a saddle member having an inner tapered surface in relatively revolvable engagement with the lateral surface of said conical member and providing conduit means connecting with the other portion of said lead and with the conduit means of said conical member, anchor means providing axially slidable engagement with said saddle member for maintaining a relatively revolvable relation between said conical member and said saddle member, and resilient means for forcing said saddle member into revolvable engagement with said conical member.

.8. The combination claimed in claim '1 in combination with means disposed medially of the width of said engaged surfaces for applying a lubricant between the respective innermost pertions of said relatively revolvable engaged surfaces.

9. In a tire inflation system, means for sup plying fluid under pressure, a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connectingsaid supply means to the tire casing of a wheel, a conical member having an exterior tapered surface fixedly secured to the axle of said wheel, a saddle member having an interior tapered surface adapted to relatively revolvably engage the tapered surface of said conical member and to form therewith medially of the engaged said surfaces an annular chamber, conduit means embracing a circularly formed tubing for connecting said annular chamber to one portion of said conduit lead, other conduit means embracing a lateral aperture in said conical member for connecting said annular chamber to the other portion of said conduit lead, an anchor member providing means for axially slidable engagement with said saddle member to prevent relative rotation but to permit relative axial movement between said anchor and saddle members, and re silient means for forcing said saddle member into engagement with the tapered surface of said conical member,

10. In a tire inflation system comprising a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connection with the tirecasing of a wheel, and the combination within a housing surrounding the axle of said wheel, of a conical member fixedly secured to said axle and having an exterior tapered surface and providing conduit means connected to one portion of said conduit lead, a saddle member having an interior -tapered surface in relatively revolvable engagemember fixedly secured to said housing and providing means for axially slidable engagement with said saddle member to prevent relative rotation but to permit relative axial movement between said anchor and saddle members, resilient means for forcing said saddle member into engagement with the tapered surface of said conical member, an oil reservoir within said axle, and wick means connecting said oil reservoir with the innermost portions of the engaged tapered surfaces of said conical and saddle members.

11. In a tire inflation system comprising means for supplying fluid under pressure, a conduit lead having relatively stationary and revolving portions for connecting said supply means to the tire casing of a wheel, and the combination within the hub of said wheel of an axle providing a conical member having an exterior tapered surface and providing conduit means connected to one portion of said lead, a saddle member having an interior tapered surface in relatively revolvable engagement with the exterior surface of said conical member and providing conduit means connecting with the other portion of said lead and with the conduit means of said conical member, an anchor member fixedly secured to said hub and providing means for axially slidable engagement with said saddle member to prevent relative rotation but to permit relative axial movement between said anchor and saddle members, and resilient means for forcing said saddle member into engagement with the tapered surface of said conical member, the arrangement of said coacting parts within said hub being such that said wheel may be removed and replaced without disturbing said conduit connections.

CARL WIEGAND. 

